Currency bill counting and bunching machine



Feb 2, 193?. VON EARTH 2,669,139?

CURRENCY BILL COUNTING AND BUNGHING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet l Go jo INVENTOR.

Fdm 22 19371 A. vow EARTH 55390599397 CURRENCY BILL COUNTING ANDBUNCHING MACHINE IN \"ENTOR.

Fab, 2;, 1937. VQN -3 2,069,397

CURRENCY BILL COUNTING AND BUNCHING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR.

Feb 22 393% A. VON EARTH 3 3 CURRENCY BILL COUNTING AND BUNCHING MACHINEINVENTOR.

Feb. 2, 1937. A VON EARTH 2,069,397

CURRENCY BILL COUNTING AND BUNCHING MACHINE I Filed May 25, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6.

z 61 t J/ m 2 ll 36 1 B 8 e 6 i e 35 2" 10 c 11-"- D F IG. Z 1};

F /& 9. 26

' INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CURRENCY BILL COUNTING AND BUNCHINGMACHINE Arthur von Barth, New York, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1936, Serial No. 81,673

15 Claims.

My invention relates to counting and bunching machines, and moreparticularly to a machine for counting and bunching currency bills,although it is equally useful for counting other kinds of bills, or forsheets of paper and similar articles.

An object of the invention is to remove a definite number of bills, oneat a time, from an indefinite column or supply thereof and segregate thebills so removed into a plurality of groups or bunches each containing adefinite number of bills, each group or bunch being isolated from theother groups or bunches.

I will first describe one form in which my invention may be embodied andwill then set forth the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a counting and bunching machine embodyingthe invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation from right of Fig. 1, thebunching device being removed so as to clearly show the construction ofthe machine; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fig. 4 is a planview; Figs. 5, 5A, 5B,

and 5C disclose the detailed construction of the 2 removable billcompartment, Fig. 5A showing the plate at the bottom of the billcompartment resting upon the top of the bill feeding table; Fig. 6 showsthe cam discs and the coiled spring of the bunch controlling mechanismwith the ratchet wheel and risers left of the cam disc removed; Fig. 7is a vertical section of the bill feeding mechanism; Fig. 7A is a planview, partly broken away, of the bill feeding mechanism; Fig. 8 is asection on the line DD of Fig. 7; and Figs. 9 and 9A show one of the nutjaws shown in Fig. 7A.

Similar numbers of reference represent corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

A table having a plate I and legs 2 affords a support for the entireapparatus. The main suction chamber 3 has openings through the wall 5thereof into a suction pick-up cylinder, a suction delivery cylinder andthe housing for a travel- 45 ling suction belt, and an opening at He inthe lower portion thereof extends into the hollow walls II b of the billcompartment.

The several functioning parts of the ma.- chine, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 4, are located between the wall and the front wall 5a of th machine.

In the main suction chamber 3, a suction or partial vacuum may bemaintained in any suitable way. This chamber may be of any convenientform and may be connected with a rotary fan 6, Figs. 2 and 3, or othersuction apparatus having a casing communicating with the chamber 3through an opening 3a.

The motor l5 driving the fan and whole machine may be located on a shelfl6, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The motor l5 may be of back geared type having across shaft Ila, for a purpose to be later explained.

A partial vacuum is maintained in the main suction chamber 3 by the fan6, air being exhausted through the opening 3a and being dischargedthrough the orifice 1a. The fan is driven from the motor shaft l'la by abelt lid in engagement with pulley Ill) and acting upon the fan shaftMe. In the space outside and be- 15 low the suction branch 4 and inproximity to the main suction chamber 3, a suction pickup member 8 islocated. The front end of said member is supported by a stationary shaft8a upon which it turns with one end passing through the wall 5 into thesuction chamber 3, and being supported on rollers 9, Fig. 2, to permitit to rotate freely. Said suction member is provided with fourlongitudinal slots or orifices. The upper and the lower slots are shownat 80 and 8b respectively. The rear end of member 8 communicatesdirectly with the middle part of main suction chamber 3, thus forming,through the slots 80 and 8b, an air passage from the outside space abovethe top of the stack of bills Ill toward the suction fan 6.

This member 8 successively engages and removes bills or other sheetsfrom the top of the stack or column I0, and transfers them to the movingtransfer suction member II. The bills so removed are delivered to adelivery suction cylinder which causes the counting of the bills andtheir segregation in the pockets of a collecting mechanism. Inside ofthe suction member 8 is a segmental stationary plate 8d for the purposeof covering any idle slot of said member 8 following the transfer of abill to the travelling suction member. This prevents waste of suctionforce.

It is evident that during the rotation of the member 8, when the slot 8barrives directly above the stack of bills as shown in Fig. 1, a billwill be drawn towards the slot 8b and held by the vacuum. With 180 ofturning movement of the member 8, a bill reaches a horizontal positionbut is still held to the member 8. While the slot is in this position,it is partly covered by, the inside stationary plate 8d, thus reducingthe effect of air suction. Hence, at this instance, the suction servesonly to hold the bill against possiblc displacement until said bill hasbeen attracted to the travelling transfer member I! .by suction appliedthrough an approaching slot of said member l2. The member I2 is locatedand moves above the member 8. The member I2, located and having movementabove the member 8, is of an endless belt construction consisting of twolink chains l3 and I311 carried by four sprocket wheels l4 mounted onshafts I611 and lGe.

Steel rods l3) connect said chains at suitable intervals, Figs. 2 and 4,these rods serving as supports for a continuous fabric cover extendingbetween the chains, and constitute reaches of the belt l2. Said belt isprovided at suitable intervals with transverse slots or orifices l3bserving as air suction openings. Between the reaches of said'belt apartial vacuum is maintained by the action of the fan 6 through theopening 4a in the wall 5.

While a bill attached to the lower reach of the transfer member I2 ispassing between an auxiliary belt I! and the transfer member l2, it isnecessary that the edges of the bill shall not hang down while it isattracted to the belt l2, and that said bill shall bodily adhere to thelower reach of said member. For this purpose, the

slots l3b in said belt are arranged in pairs, as

shown inFigs. 1 and 4, so that the suction at the slots attracts theportions of the bill nearest both longitudinal edges, thus holding itflat during its transfer from the suction pickup cylinder 8.

The link chains l3 and l3a, in addition to constituting the main part ofthe belt I 2 carrying the bills, actuate those members co-operating withsaid belt I2. The suction belt I2 is driven from a motor I5 throughpulleys I60 and l8b and the belt I611.

The rotary motion of the suction pickup member 8 is imparted by asprocket wheel I611, Fig. 1, at one end of said member 8 which engagesthe link chain l3a, Fig. 2, of the lower reach of the belt l2.

The peripheral distance between the longitudinal slots of thecylindrical shell of the member 8 is equal to the distance between eachpair of slots I3b of the belt I2, Fig. 1, so that these slots at ofmovement of the member 8, register accurately with the first slot ofeach pair of slots at the reach of the belt I2. The bill attracted bythe member 8 from the top of the column l8 arrives opposite the pair ofslots of the lower reach of the belt l2, and consequently is attractedby the suction through these slots and is transferred from said cylinderto said belt while flat, and is carried by said belt to a suctiondelivery cylinder. The auxiliary belt I! at the left end of the belt l2at |3d is to prevent a bill carried by said belt from dropping therefromwhile the belt is curved. The belt I! is moved positively at the samespeed as the belt l2. Said movement is effected by a sprocket wheel I!)mounted on the end of the shaft of the roller 20 and engaged by thechain of the upper reach of the belt l2.

The uncounted bills III are held in a box or compartment ll; having atits bottom a supporting table Ila.

On each side of the compartment H is an auxiliary suction chamber I lb,both suction chambers being connected at their lower portion II! withthe main suction chamber 3 by the opening He at the lower portion of thewall 5, Fig. 2. The bill compartment ll, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, and 5Cis provided with two auxiliary suction chambers llb having at theirupper portions,

adjacent the side edges of the topmost bills, a

flow of air having a tendencyto create a horizontal circulation of airbetween the upper two or three bills which will destroy the attractionof the bills to each other caused by static electricity, and separateand maintain them in proper position until the topmost bill is engagedand removed by the suction pickup member 8.

Instead of having the upper end of each auxiliary suction chamber llbopen for the entire length of the bill, it may be open at separatedpoints, as shown by Figs. 5 and 5C. To avoid the creation of vacuumbetween the bills by the air suction, I provide several alternateopenings exposed to the edges of the uppermost bills, affording airsuction spaces l|ml lp open to the atmosphere, so that air drawn outthrough the suction openings Ilm is being replaced by the current ofatmospheric air passing through the openings Hp, Figs. 5 and 50, thuscreating a circulation of air between the bills as shown by arrows Ilqin Fig. 5C. This prevents possible adherence between the bills while thetopmost bill is being removed and transferred to the counting andbunching device. However, the particular construction of the previouslydescribed compartment holding the stack of uncounted bills, is such thatthe suction member 8 can pick up no more than one bill at a time. Theimperative demand that a machine shall be absolutely reliable in itswork in counting and bunching bills, and not a single mistake under anycondition shall occur, calls for additional precautionary mechanismspreventing said cylinder from engaging and. carrying more than one billat a time to the counting mechanism and the receiving and bunchingdevice.

I will now describe such precautionary mechanisms:

If the suction pickup member 8, while rotating about its tubular axis,should by any chance attract two adhering'bills instead of but a singlebill from the top of the stack or column of bills, and these two bills,after completion of one-half of revolution of said member, should bebrought to the horizontal position below the belt l2, it is quiteevident that the suction transfer member 12, while adjacent these twobills, will attract the outside bill or the one nearest to said belt,leaving the other bill still adhering to the slot 8c of the suctionmember 8. The suction member or belt l2 holding the bill, movesprogressively away from the member 8, travelling as above describedtowards the auxiliary belt I1 and to the next member 2|. The member 8meanwhile carries the remaining bill, and after making a completerevolution, again restores the bill to a horizontal position andsurrenders it to the suction member l2.

The described co-operative motion and action of the two members 8 and I2affords the first precautionary means for ensuring accuracy of work bythe machine.

While the suction members 8 and I2 are in motion, if no bill has beenengaged by these members, the requirement arises that the counting andbunch controlling mechanism shall not be actuated, as no bill will bedeposited at the bunch receiving unit 26b, Fig. 1.

To so actuate the-counter as to meet the above mentioned requirements, Iinstall in the path of travel of the bill, two horizontally suspendedstripper levers 33, Fig. 1, attached to a tube or sleeve 33c, saidsleeve being mounted to freely oscillate on a shaft 33d, Fig. 4, fixedbetween the walls and 5a of the machine.

These levers, located adjacent the lower portion of the member 2|, passthrough outer portions of the nozzles 22 of a member 2| adjacent theopposite ends thereof, and for this purpose, incisions 22b, Figs. 2 and4, are provided at the out-er portions of these nozzles to keep thelever body flush with the outside edge of the nozzles 22 and permit themember 2| to rotate freely.

At the instant a bill carried by the belt |2 reaches the nozzle 22 ofthe rotating suction delivery member 2|, said bill is drawn by thesuction against the nozzle 22 and the two levers 33, being carried aheadby the revolving member 2| until it encounters the arms of the suspendedlevers 33 causing them to move upwards slightly. Carried by one end ofthe sleeve 33c, Figs. 2 and 4, is a vertically projecting arm 33ccarrying an electric contact 33a co-operating with a second electriccontact 33b fixedly mounted adjacent the wall 5, Figs. 1 and 4. Theseelectric contacts 33a. and 33b are connected respectively with wires 23aand 23b in circuit with an electric motor 34, Figs. 2 and 3.

When the horizontally suspended levers 33 are engaged by a bill carriedby the nozzle 22 of the member 2 they are moved to engage the contacts33a and 33b to complete a circuit and energize the electric motor 34.

A vertical rod lab is attached at its lower end to a crank upon theshaft of said motor 34, and at its upper end to a link |8c of thecontrolling mechanism and also to a rocking lever |8f acting upon acounter.

As the motor 34 is energized, the rod lab recodes and actuates thecounter |8 through the lever l8) and the vertical link I8e, Fig. 1, andat the same time actuates the lever |8a of the bill bunching controllerthrough the connecting link I80. This actuates the ratchet wheel |8d ofthe controller mechanism, records that one bill has been deposited atthe bill receiving device 262) and partially sets the mechanism foractuating said receiving device.

At the right end of the upper reach of the belt l2, above and insuitable proximity to the same is a delivery suction member 2|, saidmember being tubular and having four longitudinally extending suctionnozzles 22, Figs. 1 and 2 at spaced intervals about the outer surface ofsaid member. The right end of the member 2| protrudes through the wall 5and into the main suction chamber 3, Fig. 2. The extreme left end of themember 2| is keyed to the shaft 24. Said shaft is supported by, androtates in, a bearing sleeve 2412-, Figs. 2 and 4, fixed to the wall517. The left end of the member 2| is mounted on a stationary shaft 24dfixed to the wall 5a. The tubular portion of said member 2 positionedwithin the suction chamber 3, has four large openings 24c through whichthe sub-atmospheric pressure in said chamber 3 is utilized to cause thatnozzle of said delivery member, operative upon a bill, to remove saidbill from said transfer mechanism or belt |2 to the collectingmechanism. Only one nozzle is operative at any one time, and thisoperative nozzle is indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral 22a.

Outside of the suction member 2|, a stationary segmental hood 24f islocated, being fixed to the wall 50. of the machine. The function ofsaid hood is to cover the three idle nozzles 22 during rotation of themember 2 cutting off the suction through said nozzles to prevent wasteof energy. One nozzle (22a) only is subject to suction from the chamber3 and acts upon a bill 230 to be delivered from the belt or to thecollecting mechanism.

If, by chance, a pair of slots |3b of the upper reach of the belt l2carries two bills instead of a single bill, the nozzle 22a of the member2|, when the bills reach it, will remove the upper bill only, while thelower bill, being kept attracted to the reach of the belt |2, will becarried by the belt around and finally surrendered to the nozzle 22a ofthe member 2|. This co-operation between these two members I2 and 2|affords a second precautionary measure against two bills instead of asingle bill being delivered by the member 2|, and thus a mistake by saidmember and by the register mechanism is prevented.

To impart rotary motion to the suction member 2|, a sprocket wheel 23 isfixedly mounted thereon in proximity to the wall 5. This sprocket wheel23 engages the link chain |3a of the upper reach of the moving belt I2,thus causing said belt l2 to rotate the member 2|.

The circumferential pitch or distance between the nozzles 22 and 22aabout the tubular member 2| is equal to the distances between the centerlines |3c of each pair of slots |3b of the belt l2, so that the centerlines of said slots exactly register with the middle portions of thenozzles 22 and 22a during the rotary motion of the member 2|.

The bill removed by the rotating member 2| from the belt l2, by strikingthe horizontal arms 33 actuates at the same time the bill counter andthe bunch controlling device, and is stripped from the nozzle 22a anddrops by its own momentum into the bunch receiving unit 26b.

Before proceeding with the description of the bill transferringmechanism, I will explain shortly the arrangement of the bill receivingdevice. This device 26a consists of a. series of bill receiving units26b vertically suspended upon revolving shafts 26c and 26d.

At the right of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, said bill receivingunits are carried by a chain conveyor and are suspended in such a waythat the middle portion of each pocket unit 26b is suitably positionedin front of the member 2| to receive bills successively delivered bysaid member and accumulate or bunch them. The number of these billreceiving units and their location is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.Movement of said conveyor is periodically imparted by the registeringand controlling mechanism acting through the sprocket wheels 21 and 27band the chain 27a.

I will now describe the construction and action of the controlling andregistering mechanism: A coiled spring 28a, Figs. 2 and 6, is firmlyattached by its outer end to a cam disc 28b by a bolt 281, Fig. 6, thecam disc 28b in turn being firmly fixed to the inside or right face ofthe ratchet wheel I8d, Fig. 2, and the inner end of said spring 28abeing fixed to the left end of a sleeve 28d of the cam disc 28. Theright end of the sleeve of said cam disc 28 carries a sprocket wheel 21,Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The sleeves 28d on the left and 28f on the rightsides of the cam disc 28, Fig. 2, are integral with said cam disc.

When the ratchet wheel lad, which constitutes the main part of thecontrolling device, has been repeatedly actuated by the slotted leverI80: through the pawl 30, Fig. 1, to complete a full revolution, thismeans that a bunch of a predetermined number of bills has beensegregated. and accumulated in a receiving unit 261), Fig. 1. At thismoment, the spring 28a, Fig. 2, becomes fully wound, and a cam riser orramp-like projection 28c on the circumference of the cam disc 28b, Figs.2 and 6, raises the locking latch 28k and releases the escapement 28a ofthe cam disc 28, thus permitting the spring 28a to uncoil and rotate thecam disc 28 one complete revolution until the latch 28k drops andarrests further rotation. The repeated actions, meantime, of the slottedlever I8a keeps the ratchet wheel I8d rotating and again wind the coiledspring preparatory to the next completed bunching of bills, aspreviously described. The cam disc 28, by the rapid uncoiling of thespring 28a, imparts through the sprocket wheels 21 and 21b and the chain21a, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, motion to the billbunch holding device, movingthe conveyor 26a and the bunch holding units 26b upwards to idleposition while the next unit 26c is being moved upwards to the billreceiving position.

I will now describe the action of the safety latch 32, by means of whichan untimely shifting of the bunch holding unit 26b to idle position isforestalled, the occurrence of which may possibly take place in case ofwear of the edge of the escapement 286 of the cam disc 28 and of theedge of the latch 28k.

A sliding safety latch 32, Figs. 1 and 6, is positioned adjacent theescapement 28c, Fig. 6, cpposed to the direction of rotation of the camdisc 28, and is slidingly movable up and down in bearings fixed to thewall 32a supporting the counter and controlling mechanism. The lower endof said safety latch 32, at the instant the edge 289, Fig. 6 of thelatch 28k clears the edge of the escapement 28c which, at which instant,the uncoiling force of the spring 28a. would tend to cause the cam disc28 to rotate, prevents such action of said spring until said latch 32 israised by the rotating suction member 2I, through gears 24b and 240, theconnecting rod 30a and the bell crank levers SI and 3Ia. This delays thespring action by a fraction of a second,'allowing time for the mainlatch 28k to clear the corner 28h, Fig. 6 of the tooth 28c of the camdisc 28, and retarding, by that fraction of time, the rotation of thecam disc 28 and consequently the upward movement of the conveyor billreceiving unit 26b. This permits the deposit of the last incoming billto complete the bunch of bills in the bill receiving unit 26h beforeremoval of that bill receiving unit to its idle position 262'.

To feed the bills in the compartment I I upwardly, and to maintain theupper level or height of the stack of bills below the suction member 8,I locate, on top of the stack of bills, a member or feeler 34, Figs. 1and 5, pivotally mounted adjacent the upper portion of the compartmentII. Said feeler is of a bell crank construction, one arm 34 of whichprotrudes into the bill compartment and rests lightly on top of thestack of bills II]. The other arm 34d is located outside of the billcompartment and is bent upwardly so as to operatively engage an arm 340of another bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the wall of themachine, its other arm 34a carrying an electric contact.

I will now describe the operating mechanism of the bill compartment I Ishown in Figs. 1 and 5.

At the bottom of the hollow wall Nb of the left side of the bill holdingcompartment II, a shaft II is positioned. On said shaft are twooscillating bell cranks IIk, the arm II h of each of these bell cranksprojecting into the bill compartment II. The other arms IIk of thesebell cranks positioned outside of said compartment, are connected to thelower ends of upright rods I2a. The upper ends of said rods I2a areslightly bent and engage below the pivotal member or feeler 34. When thelast bill upon the table He is removed by the suction member 8, thetable Ila drops and the arms Hit of the bell cranks, because of thedropping of the table, are depressed, and the arms IIk are raised tomove the rods I2a upwardly.

Below the electric contact 34a attached to one arm of the bell crank340, as shown in Fig. 1, another electric contact 34b is fixed to thewall 5. These two contacts make or break a circuit at a certain instant.Each of the contacts 34a and 34b is connected by wires 34c and 34f withan electric motor 35a so as to energize said motor upon the engagementof said contacts.

When the upper ends of the rods I 20., while being raised, lift thepivotal member or feeler 34 from contact with the top of the stack ofbills, the arm 34d recedes and permits the arm 340 of the bell crank, byits own Weight, to drop, thus causing the contacts 34a and 34b toseparate and to break the circuit energizing the motor 35a. To avoid aclose contact of the ends of bills in the compartment I I with the rearwall I Ir thereof, two distance bars 3' and IIs Figs. 5A and 5B, areprovided. At the lower end of the bar Us a cam member Hg is attached,the purpose of which will be explained later.

To facilitate the recharging of the empty bill compartment with a newstack or column of bills to be counted, said compartment is maderemovable from the machine to permit refilling of the compartment upon aseparate table or bench.

Adjacent the bottom of the bill compartment is a loosely fitted bottomplate IIzc, said plate being for the purpose of holding and carrying astack of bills while the bill compartment is removed from the top of thefeeding table Ila. The longitudinal edges of said bottom plate restfreely on several small brackets I I t attached to the inner walls ofthe bill compartment. This bottom plate is located on said brackets atsuch a height from the bottom of the bill compartment, Figs. 1 and 5A,that when said compartment is being placed in the machine, the bottomplate I la: easily slides over the top of the feeding table IIa. Thisloose bottom plate Ila: is built of two separate plates riveted to eachother in such a way that there is clearance or a space between them.

Within said space between these plates, is a plate IIv, said plate beingpivoted at I Iw adjacent the front portion of the plate I I 2:. Alongone edge of this plate and where the arms Hit of the bell cranks Illa,Fig. 5A, pass through the wall of the bill compartment, incisions IIzare formed. The slide plate H2), at the'instant the feeding table IIacarrying the plate I In; drops to the bottom of the bill compartment, isin a position covering the two incisions Hz, Fig. 5C, and therefore thearms it, being struck by the weight of the dropped plate I Ix, recedeand raise the arms His and therethrough the uprights I'Za. Consequently,the arms of the pivotal members or feelers 34 are moved to break theelectric circuit energizing the motor 350., thus stopping the billfeeding mechanism.

While a newly filled bill compartment is being positioned in themachine, the attendant operator pushes the hand knob Hz at the one endof the slide plate toward the left (as shown by the arrow z Fig. 513),thus retracting the slide plate llv from its obstructing the positionin-relation to the incisions Hz. This allows the bell crank arms Ilh toenter the incisions IIz, causes the crank arms Ilk and uprights In torecede, and permits the pivotal member or ieeler 34 to drop upon the topof the stack of bflls Hi. When this condition is established, themachine may be operated to bring the top of the stack or column 01 billsto a level .permitting the suction member 8 to act thereon.

The'slide plate lie is provided, toward the rear end of the bottom plateHz, with a small projection Ilw positioned outside of the plate II. Thisprojection is somewhat shorter than the thickness or the depth of thedistance bar lls'. It does not reach the rear wall Hr, Figs. 5 and 5B,but leaves clearance between the projection IIw and said rear wall forthe purpose of permitting free pivotal movement of the slide (as isshown by arrow 2) This movement of the slide towards the right islimited by the distance bar IIs when the attendant pushes said knob IIiin the direction of arrow s Fig. 53. It is evident that when the rearend of the slide plate Ilv with the projection I Iw reaches the distancebar I is, said projection is positioned under the lower portion of thecurvature of the cam member Iiy. When the portion of the feeding tableIla below the bottom plate Ila: starts to move upwardly, the endprojection llw of the slide plate reaches the cam member Hy, and onfurther upward movement, the slide plate is moved by the curvature ofthe cam My acting upon the projection IIw, slidingly toward the leftedge of the plate Hz, and covers the incisions I is of the plate :0.This prepares said bottom plate for its next drop to the bottom of thecompartment and the resultant action upon the arms H71. and Ilk of thebell cranks, as is shown by Figs. 5A and 50.

I will now describe the construction and operation of the mechanism ofthe bill feeding table Ila.

Below the table 5 and immediately under the bill holding compartment, isa bracket Illc, Figs. 1 and 2. Mounted in this bracket is a worm gearlie. A. ball bearing 35a is preferably used. Passing through the centerof said worm gear is a vertically extending double threaded screw Ilcsupporting at its upper end, a bill carrying table Ila.

Inside and diametrically located in said worm gear are quadrangularopenings 2g, Figs. 7 and 7A. On the upper face of said gear are twooppositely disposed, slidable nut-jaws 2a, having projections 2b thereonadapted to engage opposite sides of the screw He. The nut-jaws haveupper and lower slide portions 20 which straddle and bear upon upper andlower faces of said worm gear IIe. Each jaw also has an upwardprojection 2d with horizontal extensions 2e.

In the opening 2g of the worm gear, Figs. 7 and 7A, springs Eli arelocated, these springs having a tendency to engage the jaws 2a with thethread of the screw 5 lo. The feed table Ila does not rotate and neitherdoes the arbor IIc supporting it. The threads of the arbor, instead ofbeing square, are beveled at its upper side, as shown by He, Figs. 1, 2,3, and 7. The tooth 2b of each nut-jaw, Fig. 9, has a correspondingshape to that of the thread or the arbor. The peculiar shape of thethread of the arbor I I and of the teeth 21) of the jaws 2a is such thatif an attendant of the machine has a quantity of bills to be countedsmaller than is necessary to permit a full height or the stack oi. billsin the compartment, he may raise the arbor, holding the table I la, byhand to secure the desired level of the top 01' the stack of bills. Themovability of the nut-jaws 2b permits the screw to be easily movedupwardly by hand.

When the motor 35a is energized by the engagement of the contacts 34aand 3412, Fig. 1, closing the circuit to said motor, power istransmitted through the pulleys 85b and 350 and the belt 35d to the worm38, thus turning the worm gear lie in the direction 01 arrow, Fig. 7A.The nut-jaws 2a act upon the screw I I0 to gradually raise the table Ilasupported upon the top of said screw. The feed table He raises the stackof bills to compensate for the bills removed by the suction pickupmember 8.

When the level of the bills attains the normal height, the pivotalmember or feeler 34, Fig. 5B, is also raised, permitting the arm 340 ofthe bell crank to drop by its own weight, at the same time bringing thecontact 34a out of engagement with the contact 341), Fig. 1, thusbreaking the circuit and arresting temporarily the rise of the feedtable Ha. It is evident that at the instant that the feed table I lareaches the highest level and the suction member 8 removes the lastbill, the projections 2b of the nut-jaws engage the lower end of thethread of the screw Ilc. Between the outside diameter of the inner coreof the thread and the outside diameter of the screw He, and at the endof said thread, a bevel Ilg, Fig. 8, is provided to open the jaws.

This bevel inclined connection between these two diameters of the screwI I0 is for the purpose of causing the tooth 2b of the jaw 2a, when itreaches the end of the thread, to slide over the smooth end My of thescrew and disengage the thread and the nut-jaws 2a.

This disengagement of the thread of the screw lilo supporting the tableIla would not permit the table to drop to the bottom of the billcompartment if the nut-jaws 2a bearing on the worm gear were pressedradially by the springs 2h to again engage the thread of the screw. Toprevent the nut-jaws from engaging the thread of the screw No, a bushing21 having a horizontal flange is slidably located on the screw and belowthe horizontal extension 2e of the nut-jaws 2a. Said bushing 21, beingpressed from below the flange, enters between the extensions 2c of thenut-jaws at the moment the nut-jaw projections 22), sliding on thesmooth end of the screw, recede outwardly on the face of the worm gearIle, Figs. 7 and 7A.

Another bushing 2n fixed in the top of the table I is for the purpose oflimiting the sudden upward movement of the flange of the bushing if bysprings 2m from a position below the horizontal extensions of thenut-jaws 2e while entering between said extensions (as shown in Fig.'7). The horizontal flange'of the bushing 211. is used also as a guidefor the four short rods 2p which rest on top of the flange 2 of thesliding bushing. While the feed table I la drops down, its under sidestrikes the upper ends of the rods 2p (as can be seen in Fig. 1).

These rods, at their lower ends, rest on the top of the horizontalflange 2! of the bushing, sliding on the screw Ho, and when the rods 2pare struck by the table, the flange 2) is depressed.

When the flange 21 is being moved from between the projections 2c of thenut-jaws, said the parts are re-engaged with the thread of the screw I Ic.

In addition to the previous description of the bill receiving andbunching mechanism, the parts 26 are two guard bars provided to keep thebunches of bills from being thrown out of the bunch holding units whilethe conveyor is being suddenly moved. At the lower end of the conveyor,a spring 269 is attached, the purpose of which is to take up slack inthe link chains of the conveyor and thereby keep the bill receivingunits always in the proper position relatively to the suction member 21.

A tension spring l8h in the registering and controlling mechanism, asdescribed, serves to restore the lever l8a to the initial or startingposition following the end of its stroke when acting upon the ratchetwheel l8d.

To prevent a bill adhering to the suction opening of the member 8 beingdragged by suction force inwardly of said suction member, two bridges8f, Fig. 2, are provided. At the bill delivery suction member 2|, Figs.2 and 4, similar action is prevented by the two horizontal levers 33,Fig. 4. At the transverse orifices of the belt suction member I 2, thepassing of a bill inwardly of said belt is prevented by the narrowmiddle strip l3g of each pair of orifices, Figs. 1 and 4.

A machine embodying the invention includes therein a collectingmechanism including a sequence of receiving units in which segregatedbills are collected or bunched, a compartment adapted to receive a stackof bills, and a transfer mechanism for removing the bills, one at atime, from said bill compartment and delivering them to the receivingunits of the collecting mechanism successively. This transfer mechanismconsists of a suction pickup cylinder adjacent the top of the stack ofbills in the bill compartment, a suction belt above and adjacent saidpickup cylinder, and a suction delivery cylinder above and adjacent saidsuction belt, and adjacent said collecting mechanism.

In this manner, bills are removed one at a time by the pickup cylinder,the suction belt removing each bill. from said pickup cylinder andconveying it toward the delivery cylinder, which cylinder removes thebills from the suction belt and throws or delivers them into that pocketof the collecting mechanism adjacent said delivery mechanism at themoment.

Since the bills, while engaged by the suction belt, pass about a curvedsurface, means are provided for preventing the flexibility inherent tothe material of a bill from moving the end of the bill from said belt toan extent to permit air seepage between the bill and the belt.

In conjunction with the above mechanisms, I provide means whereby thecollecting mechanism is actuated at predetermined intervals according tothe number of bills delivered to a pocket. In other words, thiscollecting mechanism remains stationary until a given number of billshas been deposited in one of the pockets, whereupon all of the pocketsreceive movement so as to bring the succeeding pocket into operativerelation to the delivery cylinder.

A spring drum is used to actuate the pockets of the collecting mechanismin the manner 1 above described, and this spring drum is actuated towind the spring, the complete winding of the spring being determined bythe number of bills delivered to a pocket. The mechanism for winding thespring is capable of adjustment so as to vary the number of impulsesrequired to give one full rotation to the spring winding mechanism. Thismechanism includes means whereby, upon the completion of one full cycleof the spring winding member by the pawl and ratchet mechanism, thespring will be released so as to impart one full rotation to the membercarried by the shaft of the spring and geared to the collectingmechanism and thus impart the desired travel to the pockets of thecollecting mechanism by a rapid movement without interrupting theoperation of the transfer mechanism.

As heretofore stated, it being desirable to slightly delay the releaseof the tension of the spring, I employ an escapement mechanism asdescribed, for the purpose of ensuring accuracy in the timing of theactuation of the collecting pockets with the movements of the deliverycylinder.

The means for actuating the spring drum serves three functions: to givea proper direction to the bills when delivering them to a bunch pocket;to ensure a complete separation of the bill from the suction deliverycylinder, and to close a circuit to a motor for actuating the springwinding mechanism.

To ensure the top of the bills in the bill compartment always beingwithin the range of the suction of the pickup cylinder, means as abovedescribed are provided by which the stack of bills is intermittentlyraised as a result of the actuation of a feeler engaging the uppermostbill and operative upon a make and break mechanism controlling thecircuit to a motor for imparting movement to the mechanism for raisingthe stack of bills.

I also provide, in conjunction with the bill compartment, a mechanismwhich will automatically remove the feeler from above the billcompartment when it becomes necessary to refill this compartment withbills after the last bill has been removed therefrom by the pickupcylinder.

While, in the accompanying drawings, I have shown specific details ofconstruction of the various mechanisms above referred to, it is not myintention to limit the invention to such precise details ofconstruction, it being apparent that such may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a continuously operating transfer mechanism includingmeans adapted to remove bills one at a time from the top of said stackand deliver it to a pocket in said collecting mechanism, a deliverycylinder adapted to remove each bill from said belt, and a travellingbelt adapted to remove bills from said means, a mechanism forsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets of said collecting mechanisminto operative relation to said transfer mechanism, intermittentlyoperative means acting thereon, and means engageable by each bill as itpasses from said delivery cylinder into one of the pockets of saidcollecting mechanism for controlling the timing of the actuation of saidlast named means.

2. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pocketsa transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment, a travelling suctionbelt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereof adjacent saidcollecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinder adjacent saidcollecting mechanism and said belt, whereby bills are removed one at atime from said stack and each bill is delivered to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, intermittently operative means acting thereon, andmeans engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism for controlling thetiming of the actuation of said last named means.

3. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment, a travelling suctionbelt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereof adjacent saidcollecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinder adjacent saidcollecting mechanism and said belt, whereby bills are removed one at atime from said stack and each bill is delivered to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, said pickup cylinder, said belt and said deliverycylinder each having a se- .quence of openings about same, said openingsbeing separated by solid portions preventing the bills" passing inwardlyof said cylinders or said belts, a mechanism for successively bringingsaid bunch pockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relationto said transfer mechanism, intermittently operative means actingthereon, and means engageable by each bill as it passes from saidtransfer mechanism into one of the pockets of said collecting mechanismfor controlling the timing of the actuation of said last named means.

4. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of. bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment, a travelling suctionbelt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereof adjacent saidcollecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinder adjacent saidcollecting mechanism and said belt, whereby bills are removed one at atime from said .stack and each bill is delivered to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, means engaging said belt at the end thereof remotefrom said collecting mechanism, whereby bills are prevented from flexingaway from said belt, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism. intermittently operative means acting thereon, andmeans engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism for controlling thetiming of the actuation of said last named means.

5. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment, a traveling suctionbelt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereof adjacent saidcollecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinder adjacent saidcollecting mechanism and said belt, whereby bills are removed one at atime from said stack and each bill is delivered to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a continuously operating source of power,connections between same and said belt, and gearing connecting said beltand said pickup and said delivery cylinders respectively, whereby saidbelt and said cylinders are operated at the same peripheral speed, amechanism for successively bringing said bunch pockets of saidcollecting mechanism into operative relation to said transfer mechanism,intermittently operative means acting thereon, and means engageable byeach bill as it passes from said transfer mechanism into one of thepockets of said collecting mechanism for controlling the timing of theactuation of said last named means.

6. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism adapted to remove bills one at atime from said stack and deliver each bill to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, a spring drum operatively connected with saidmechanism, intermittently operative means whereby energy is accumulatedin said spring drum with the successive delivery of bills, meansnormally holding the energy accumulated in said spring drum, a releasemember operative upon said last named means, whereby the energy of saidspring drum will be applied to said collecting mechanism atpredetermined intervals, and means engageable by each bill as it passesfrom said transfer mechanism into one of the pockets of said collectingmechanism for controlling the actuation of said intermittently operativemeans.

7. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism adapted to remove bills one at atime from said stack and deliver each bill to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, a spring drum, means for accumulating energy in saidspring consisting of. a ratchet wheel connected with one end of saidspring, a rocking lever, a pawl carried thereby, an electro-receptivedevice, connections between said device and said lever, connectionsbetween the other end of the spring of said drum and the mechanism forsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets into operative relation to thetransfer mechanism, means normally holding the energy accumulated insaid spring drum, a release member operative upon said last named means,whereby the energy of said spring drum will be applied to saidcollecting mechanism at predetermined intervals, a make and breakmechanism controlling the circuit to said electro-receptive device, andmeans engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism and operative uponsaid make and break mechanism.

8. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism adapted to remove bills one at atime from said stack and deliver each bill to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for'successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, a spring drum, means for accumulating energy in saidspring consisting of a ratchet wheel connected with one end of saidspring, a rocking lever, a pawl carried thereby, an electroreceptivedevice, connections between said device and said lever, connectionsbetween the other end of the spring of said drum and the mechanism forsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets into operative relation to thetransfer mechanism, means normally holding the energy accumulated insaid spring drum, a release member operative upon said last named meanswhereby the energy of said spring drum will be applied to saidcollecting mechanism at predetermined intervals, a make and breakmechanism controlling the circult to said electro-receptive device,means engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets'of said collecting mechanism and operative uponsaid make and break mechanism, and means for varying the operativeeffect of said lever to determine the number of bills collected in abunch pocket.

9. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said b i ll compartment, a travellingsuction belt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereofadjacent said collecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinderadjacent said collecting mechanism and said belt, whereby bills areremoved one at a time from said stack and each bill is delivered to apocket in said collecting mechanism, a continuously operating source ofpower, connections between same and said belt, and gearing connectingsaid belt and said pickup and said delivery cylinders respectively,whereby said belt and said cylinders are operated at the same peripheralspeed, a mechanism including a spring drum for successively bringingsaid bunch pockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relationto said transfer mechanism, intermittently operative means actingthereon, means engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfermechanism into one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism forcontrolling the timing of the actuation of said last named means,supplemental holding means operative upon said spring drum, meansactuated by said delivery cylinder, and connections between said meansand said supplemental control mechanism whereby the application ofenergy stored .in said spring drum to said collecting mechanism isdetermined by and in accordance with the position of said deliverycylinder.

10. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a movable bottom plate supporting bills in saidcompartment, means adjacent the top of said compartment and engageablewith the uppermost bill in the stack, a make and break mechanismactuated by said movable member, means operative to raise said plate, amotor operative upon said means, said make and break mechanismcontrolling the circuit to said motor, a collecting mechanism includinga plurality of bunch pockets, a transfer mechanism adapted to removebills one at a time from said stack and deliver each bill to a pocket insaid collecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing saidbunch pockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation tosaid transfer mechanism, intermittently operative means acting thereon,and means engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfermechanism into one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism forcontrolling the timing of the actuation of said last named means.

11. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a. movable bottom plate supporting bills in saidcompartment, a pivotal member adjacent the top of said compartment andengageable with the uppermost bill in the stack, a make and breakmechanism actuated by said pivotal member, means operative to raise saidplate, a motor operative upon said means, said make and break mechanismcontrolling the circuit to said motor, a member pivotally mountedadjacent the bottom of said compartment and engageable by said bottomplate, connections between said lastnamed pivotal member and saidpivotal member adjacent the top of said compartment, whereby said lastnamed pivotal member is made inoperative in relation to said make andbreak mechanism and moved to one side of said compartment to permit afresh supply of bills to be delivered to said com partment, a collectingmechanism including a plurality of bunch pockets, a transfer mechanismadapted to remove bills one at a time from said stack and deliver eachbill to a pocket in said collecting mechanism, a mechanism forsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets of said collecting mechanisminto operative relation to said transfer mechanism, intermittentlyoperative means acting thereon, and means engageable by each bill as itpasses from said transfer mechanism into one of the pockets of saidcollecting mechanism for controlling the timing of the actuation of saidlast named means.

12. A machine of the character described em-- bodying therein acompartment for a stack of bills, a movable bottom plate supportingbills in said compartment, a pivotal member adjacent the top of saidcompartment and engageable with the uppermost bill in the stack, a makeand break mechanism actuated by said pivotal member, means operative toraise said plate, a motor operative upon said means, said make and breakmechanism controlling the circuit to said motor, a member pivotallymounted adjacent the bottom of said compartment and engageable by saidbottom plate, connections between said last named pivotal member andsaid pivotal member adjacent the top of said compartment, whereby saidlast named pivotal member is made inoperative in relation to said makeand break mechanism and moved to one side of said compartment to permita fresh supply of bills to be delivered to said compartment, said bottomplate having edge recesses through which the pivotal member adjacent thebottom of said compartment is adapted to pass, means whereby saidrecesses may be opened or closed to make said pivotal member operativeor inoperative at will, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism adapted to remove bills one at atime from said stack and deliver each bill to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, intermittenly operative means acting thereon, andmeans engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets of said bodying therein a compartment for astack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality of bunchpockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickup cylinderadjacent the top of said bill compartment having a plurality of spacedopenings therethrough and a segmental shield covering some of saidopenings, a travelling suction belt adjacent said pickup cylinder havingone end thereof adjacent said collecting mechanism, and a deliverysuction cylinder adjacent said collecting mechanism and said belt,whereby 1 bills are removed one at a time from said stack and each billis delivered to a pocket in said collecting mechanism, a mechanismforsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets of said collecting mechanisminto operative relation to said transfer mechanism, intermittentlyoperative means acting thereon, and means engageable by each bill as itpasses from said transfer mechanism into one of the pockets of saidcollecting mechanism for controlling the timing of the actuation of saidlast named means.

14. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment, a travelling suctionbelt adjacent said pickup cylinder having one end thereof adjacent saidcollecting mechanism, and a delivery suction cylinder adjacent saidcollecting mechanism and said belt having a plurality of spaced openingstherein, and a segmental shield covering all of said openingsexceptingthe opening operative in relation-to said suction belt, wherebybills are removed oneat a time from said stack and each billis-delivered to a pocket in said collecting mechanism, a mechanism forsuccessively bringing said bunch pockets of said collecting mechanisminto operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, intermittentlyoperative means acting thereon, and means engageable by each bill as itpasses from said transfer mechanism into one of the pockets of saidcollecting mechanism for controlling the timing of the actuation of saidlast named means.

15. A machine of the character described embodying therein a compartmentfor a stack of bills, a collecting mechanism including a plurality ofbunch pockets, a transfer mechanism consisting of a suction pickupcylinder adjacent the top of said bill compartment having a plurality ofspaced openings therethrough, and a segmental shield covering someofsaid openings, a travelling suction belt adjacent said pickup cylinderhaving one end thereof adjacent said collecting mechanism, and adelivery suction cylinder adjacent said collecting mechanism and saidbelt having a plurality of spaced openings therein, and a segmentalshield covering all of said openingsexcepting the opening operative inrelation to said suction belt, whereby bills are removed one at a timefrom said stack and each bill is delivered to a pocket in saidcollecting mechanism, a mechanism for successively bringing said bunchpockets of said collecting mechanism into operative relation to saidtransfer mechanism, intermittently operative means acting thereon, andmeans engageable by each bill as it passes from said transfer mechanisminto one of the pockets of said collecting mechanism for controlling thetiming of the actuation of said last named means.

ARTHUR VON BARTH.

